EFNL 2025: The ‘collective effort’ driving Wantirna South’s resurgence in Division 2

It sung the song just once in 2024 and suffered relegation – but the opening month or so has brought proud club Wantirna South back to happier times. Coach Jason Heffernan explains the shift.

EFNL 2025: Wantirna South sings the song after a big win over Lilydale. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Three wins from five matches has kickstarted the Devils’ Eastern Division 2 revival.

Wantirna South sits fourth on the ladder following a 52-point drubbing of Lilydale on Saturday, in a rich vein of form senior coach Jason Heffernan traced back to 2024.

Relegated at the end of last season after just one victory in Division 1, the 2002 premiership captain said a culmination of on and off-field outcomes had steadied the ship at Walker Reserve.

“It probably goes back to the end of last season where we re-signed the entire playing group except for three,” Heffernan said.

“To re-sign all of those on the back of relegation was really good, it showed even though we weren’t winning, people were happy in the environment.

“A change of assistant coaches due to circumstances was something that helped as well, some fresh voices … and the handful of recruits we got were driven.

“You put all that together, and a second year can sometimes be better for a coach because you’re not having to build the relationships through the pre-Christmas and pre-season, you can just start working on your game plan.”

EFNL 2025: Wantirna South coach Jason Heffernan. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Saturday’s victory followed earlier wins over East Burwood (seven points) and Templestowe (44), while the Devils were edged by Surrey Park (14 points) and Ringwood (10).

“We’ve been in every game, and the games we’ve won, we’ve played well,” Heffernan said.

Driving the Devils charge has been VFL-listed defender Deng Andrew, brother of Gold Coast Sun Mac Andrew.

“He’s at the Northern Bullants at the moment, he’s got elite-level fitness, does all his development with them and plays with us on the weekend,” Heffernan said.

“He’s probably been our best in three of the five games.”

But he hasn’t been the only standout.

“You have a look at our skipper (Jake Denes), and his ruck-craft is as good as I’ve seen at any level, so he’s someone who’s driven us,” Heffernan said, adding returning premiership hero Taylor Leggate had also impressed.

The Devils boast three of the top 10 leading goalkickers, with Jesse Warner (11 goals), Quinn Clark (10) and Liam Hewett (nine) providing plenty of firepower this season.

“It’s our whole forward line and we’re pretty dynamic down there, albeit young,” Heffernan said.

“But it (our performances) have been a collective effort … our off-field as well, our president and our footy ops, they’re really just staying the course which I’m really happy about.”

Wantirna South is away to Heathmont on Saturday.